Phrase guide

putty in someone's hands

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

One who is readily manipulated or controlled by another person; a puppet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: putty in someone's fingers

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A metaphor likening the easy malleability of putty to the easy manipulability of the person. First use appears c. 1867.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: marionnette — a person easily manipulated
  • Hungarian: báb — a person easily manipulated
  • Hungarian: úgy táncol, ahogy fütyülnek (neki) — a person easily manipulated
  • Italian: pappamolla — a person easily manipulated
  • Polish: pantofel — a person easily manipulated
  • Portuguese: joguete nas mãos de — a person easily manipulated